NME New Music Tour 2006- review

Boy Kill Boy, the Automatic, Forward Russia, the Howling Bells

Live at Bristol Anson Rooms

Sat, May 6th

We got there quite early for the concert because the drive wasn’t too bad. To be honest even though we had been to Bristol and the Anson Rooms before, we were expecting to find ourselves lost and it almost happened when we took a wrong turn. However we corrected ourselves quickly and made it there fine and on time. Also, this time we didn’t need to stalk a rock star to find our way to the concert.

The Howling bells opened the concert up with style and sass. They have some of the most beautiful, seductive soundscapes you are likely to hear this year and they were perfect for starting off the gig for this reason alone. Another reason though, is Howling Bell’s lead singer and guitarist Juanita Stein. She has the most beautiful voice in music right now, and it’s just as seductive and passionate as the music and so accompanies it perfectly.
The highlight had to be Low Happening, their debut single which is by far my favourite of their songs. If you haven’t heard this band yet, be sure to check them out.

The atmosphere in the place was getting more exciting as we all knew we were going to see something special, it was Forward Russia after all and possibly one of the best new bands in Britain. So we decided to get to the front as quickly as possible because it was filling up fast as everyone anticipated their arrival. As was expected they were chaotic, loud and completely different to the Howling Bells in almost every way. From the first few chords the place suddenly becomes a huge ball of excitement and mania as they rip through their funk punk party music. But shit, it doesn’t half make you want to tear the place up.
Tom Woodhead has possibly one of the most spastic, thrilling stage personas I’ve ever seen. He along with Katie and Whiskas yelp, scream and shout through the songs at a relentless pace that almost leaves you dazed. They left me tired but wanting more, and that is never a bad thing.

The Automatic arrived spectacularly, Pennie was going insane with the synth and leaping around the stage and he became the most watched no doubt in the band. Their indie rock, with it’s slice of dancy punk took over me and I found myself in a mosh. Their stomping single Raoul got everyone dancing and jumping, and with their other track Monster they proved to be one of the best new bands, but they just couldn’t match the excitement created by Forward Russia.

Boy Kill Boy have some of the best rock tracks of the year, one’s that will easily get in your head and stay there for days and there’s no doubt that you will be singing “Countdown, countdown, countdown to the dissapointment” at work. Their soaring rock melodies and odd synth coupled with their glorious wit proves that the Arctic Monkeys might not be the only big breakthrough British band this year. I read somewhere, someone claiming Boy Kill Boy was like Editors on speed and they wouldn’t be far off.

Overall, while I liked every band my favorites were definitely Forward Russia but it’s almost impossible to single out these bands. Each had their own identity and atmosphere around them that proved hugely successful on the night. I’d love to see the Howling Bells play again but have a much longer set, the same with Forward Russia. But I wouldn’t bet against either Boy Kill Boy or the Automatic being the biggest and most commercially successful of the bands here.